PREAMBLE
My goal for this offseason plan was to come up with a number of(hopefully) feasible trade possibilities to shake things up and create a more flexible roster. I also tried to have fun with a delusional free agent signing.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Lucas Giolito: $10.8M - tender
- Dylan Cease: $5.3M - tender
- Reynaldo López; $3.3M - tender
- Adam Engel: $2.3M - non-tender
- Michael Kopech: $2.2M - tender
- Kyle Crick: $1.5M - non-tender
- José Ruiz: $1M - non-tender
- Danny Mendick: $1M - tender
CLUB OPTIONS
- Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout) pick up
- Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout) decline
PLAYER OPTIONS
- AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — Takes Buyout
No, Pollock won’t get close to $8M in free agency, but does he really want to be in a situation where he’s clearly unwanted? He still mashes lefties and can cover an outfield corner, so he has a bit of a market as a platoon bat. Maybe he decides the pay cut is worth being in a place he gets to choose? Maybe he sees the dysfunction in the organization and runs for his life? Probably not, but a man can hope.
IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021) retain
- Johnny Cueto ($4.2M) let go
- Vince Velasquez ($3M) let go
- Elvis Andrus ($14.25M) let go
MANAGER
George Lombard - While I would be thrilled with Espada, I’ll go with the less hyped Lombard. Here’s a good article from The Athletic which talks a little about his work as bench coach for Detroit https://theathletic.com/3202780/2022/03/23/tigers-bench-coach-george-lombard-wont-be-a-hidden-gem-much-longer/
FREE AGENTS
Jose Abreu 2 years $20M
Bring back Pito to fill the emptiness at 1B created by my trades below. This is the move that my heart wants.
Trea Turner 10 years $250M
To fill the void left by the Anderson trade I spend big to get one of the premier SS options. This won't happen.
Andrew Benintendi 4 years $44M
Brandon Nimmo is my preference for the OF, but with Turner locked up there’s not enough room in the budget. Benintendi is a solid option - lefty bat, quality defender in LF, and someone I think the Sox will truly pursue. In his White Sox chat the other day at MLB Trade Rumors Tim Dierkes put him at 4/50+. I shave a little off to squeeze him into the budget.
Minor League deal for Michael Pineda
Pineda was bad with the Tigers this year, but he’s not far removed from being an effective innings eater with the Twins. He could be a veteran option willing to take a Minor League deal as he tries to bounce back.
TRADES
Lucas Giolito and Romy Gonzalez to San Diego for Ha-Seong Kim
This is probably a stretch because Kim is really good. However, once Tatis returns the Padres will have a bit of an infield logjam and could look to use that surplus to bolster their rotation. Giolito would be a bargain at $10.8M if he regains form, and Romy provides a fill-in for the remainder of Tatis' suspension. Kim fills the hole at 2B in my plan.
Andrew Vaughn to Miami for Pablo Lopez
The Marlins are known to be shopping their pitching surplus for offense, and Vaughn gives them a young, controllable bat. With Gio gone the already thin rotation is even thinner. Lopez slots in as a solid contributor with 2 arb years left.
Tim Anderson and Kendall Graveman to Atlanta for Bryce Elder, Jared Shuster, Kyle Muller
With Dansby Swanson and Kenley Jansen free agents, the Braves have needs at both SS and in the bullpen. This could make sense for them if they don’t want to break the bank in free agency and are willing to part with some pitching depth. Elder slots in as the 5th starter, while Shuster and Muller provide much needed rotation depth at AAA.
Gavin Sheets to Washington for Hunter Harvey
Sheets gives the Nats a cheaper option at DH/1B with more long-term upside than Luke Voit, who faces a potential non-tender. Harvey replaces Graveman as another high leverage option in the bullpen.
Jonathan Cannon to Oakland for Ramon Laureano
Laureano is what we hoped Engel could be. He fits nicely in RF until Colas is ready, while also providing insurance for Robert in CF. The A's get a young pitcher in return as they continue their rebuild.
Joe Kelly and $3M to the Dodgers for Jordan Leasure
To stay within budget I need to shed a little payroll. Kelly seems to have suffered some bad luck (.386 babip) and could be poised for a bounceback. Leasure was listed in the "others of note" section in Eric Longenhagen's writeup of Dodgers prospects, and posted solid numbers at AA this year.This feels like a risk the Dodgers could be willing to take.
SUMMARY
C Grandal $18.5M
1B Abreu $10M
2B Kim $7M
SS Turner $25M
3B Moncada $17.8M
LF Benintendi $11M
CF Robert $9.5M
RF Laureano/Colas $3.6M/$720k0
DH Jimenez $10.3M
C Zavala $720k
IF Mendick $1M
3B/1B Burger $720k
IF/OF Garcia $5.5M - we’re stuck with him, hopefully with better usage he can bounce back and be a useful player again.
Cease $5.3M
Lynn $18.5M
P. Lopez $5.3M
Kopech $2.2M
Elder $720k
Hendriks $14.3M
R. Lopez $3.3M
Harvey $1M
Lambert $720k
Bummer $3.75M
Diekman $3.5M
Crochet $720k
SP depth at AAA
Martin
Shuster
Muller
Pineda
$3M for Kelly
$1.5M Harrison
$5M for Pollock
Total $190M
